Charlie

***

Charlie closed the door and marched to kitchen, where Tracy and Lisa were drinking tea. She maintained dignity as she landed on the chair and crossed her legs. Charlie didn’t say a word, she was only looking at her girlfriends. “So...” Tracy stood up and got a cup form the cabinet. “How was the party?” Lisa set herself comfortably and fixed her eyes on Charlie. “Parties are for campus kids. Adults invite their women to events.” Charlie tidied her hair and took the kettle. “Okay, how was the event?” Trace rolled her eyed and set down. “Nothing special.” Charlie shrugged her shoulders and put a bag of white tea into her cup. “Partners, clients...” She was sitting straight-backed like she was still in the hall. “Fine wines, good appetizers. Not a single dumb teenager.” Like Nick or his friends, of course. But there was no point of mentioning them anyway. She was a different person now and her life was so much more mature. “What about Nigel?” Asked Lisa. Of course they were dying to know what happened. They were just so funny...

“Are you gonna meet him again?” Tracy still was hoping to get her ten back. No way. “Of course.” Charlie took a sip and set back on her chair, looking at the steam dreamily. “When he was walking me home, he kissed me.” She took a deep breath. Okay, she lied just a little. She kissed him first. But only because he was too shy. Besides, how could he know that she liked him too? So it was all honest. And did it really matter? “So... are you dating him now?” Tracy almost choked on her tea. Take that, girls! “I guess, we are.” Charlie looked down. “And he didn’t invite you to his place?” Lisa was so skeptical. She had a lot yet to understand. “Lis, don’t be so...” Naive? Stupid? Immature? Charlie failed to choose the right definition, so she just said, “this is a serious relationship.”